Greetings from New Zealand. My name is Lloyd Charles Barras GLEESON and I'm trying to find my Irish ancestry.
Our branch of the Gleeson family in NZ starts with the arrival of Thomas and Charlotte (Morris) Gleeson in Dec 1841 on the brig “Antilla” from Capetown South Africa.
They had married in SA on 13.11.1839, and they sailed to NZ in 1841 with their newborn baby son Frederick James (b 1841) and Charlotte’s sister, Caroline Morris.
On the marriage cert, both Thomas and Charlotte were listed as ‘Servants’, and Charlotte as ‘not of full age’.
Yes I know - there are a zillion Thomas Gleesons! - especially in Tipperary (where my parents told me Thomas was from - but I have no further details.)
The story said Thomas (believed to have been born abt 1808) had 'run away and joined the army' - lying about his age, and being subsequently shipped to South Africa, where he was de-mobbed.
They had 8 children - Frederick James, Ellen Eliza, Charles, Charlotte, Mary Anne, Thomas, Arabella, and Elizabeth Jane.
Some of these may (hopefully) be Gleeson 'hand-me-down' family names.
If you hear any bells ringing, (however faintly) please get in touch.
Thanks!